Traditional marriage in my community

Marriage is a union between a man and a woman. However, to be legally joined, the man will have to fulfill the traditional rites of his spouse.

Traditional marriage differs in different tribes and ethnic groups in the country and its involves several processes after fulfillment of the traditional rites.

I am from Rumuekini community in Rivers state of Nigeria (an ikwerre speaking community). As earlier said, processes of traditional marriage differs and the dowry process also differs.

DOWRY PROCESS
To pay the dowry of an Ikwerre lady, the man will have to meet the parents of the lady for an introduction and afterwards pay to collect a list which includes rites of parents, kinsmen and women of the family. After collecting the list, the man then have to inform the parents of the lady on when he would come with his friends and family to fulfil the rites.

Upon fulfillment of these rites, a date for the traditional marriage ceremony will be fixed as agreed by the man and the kinsmen.

THE TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE EVENT/ CEREMONY

👉FIRST OUTING BY THE BRIDE

The bride first enters the occasion ground dressed beautifully and accompanied by her friends to greet guests.

👉OUTING BY BRIDE'S MOTHER

The mother of the bride greets guests in company of her friends.

👉SECOND OUTING BY THE BRIDE

The groom is made to sit in the midst of the guest without the knowledge of the bride and the father of the bride hands wine to his beautifully dressed daughter to search for her husband. She dances round in search of her husband and on finding him, hands the wine to the husband and they both share. They then dance to meet the father of the bride who then showers blessings on them.

👉CUTTING OF CAKE

The bride and groom who are now joined, are celebrated as the cut their cake.

There's so much joy to be joined in traditional marriage but the joy to be joined in this way has a feeling made in heaven.